LinkedIn Donor Outreach Lead

Organization:

The Co-op Project

Role Type:

High-Impact, Virtual (Volunteer)

Time Commitment:

2-3 Days per Week (Flexible, based on meetings and outreach flow)

Duration:

Minimum 3-month commitment (Negotiable)

Location:

Strictly Virtual (Remote)

Reports To:

Gary Leon: Founder / Executive Director

I. Overview & Objective

The Co-op Project is seeking a highly motivated, serious, and results-oriented volunteer to drive our corporate and high-level donor outreach strategy. This role is strictly focused on using professional networking platforms, primarily LinkedIn, to identify, engage, and qualify prospective corporate sponsors, partners, and high-value individual donors.

The ideal candidate is familiar with B2B/non-profit marketing and relationship management and will be instrumental in scheduling crucial first-contact meetings for the Executive Director.

II. Key Responsibilities (The "Hands-On" Work)

The primary goal of this role is to establish a robust pipeline of corporate and major donor prospects and convert them into qualified meetings.

A. LinkedIn & Prospect Research (60%)

• Targeted Prospect Identification: Utilize LinkedIn Search, Sales Navigator (if available), and company pages to identify relevant corporate CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) departments, philanthropic executives, partnership managers, and high-net-worth individuals who align with The Co-op Project’s mission.
• Database Management: Track all prospective leads, outreach history, and relevant corporate information (e.g., giving history, matching gift programs, mission statements) in a shared tracking document (e.g., Google Sheet, CRM).
• Tailored Outreach Strategy: Research and craft highly personalized, professional connection requests and InMail messages that clearly articulate The Co-op Project’s value proposition and impact metrics.

B. Corporate and Donor Engagement (30%)

• Hands-on Engagement: Proactively engage with prospects' LinkedIn content, comment thoughtfully on their posts, and share relevant news to establish a genuine, professional relationship prior to making a direct solicitation.
• Initial Qualification: Respond to preliminary inquiries and provide high-level information about our sponsorship tiers, partnership opportunities, and the positive impact of a donation.
• Meeting Setup (Critical KPI): Successfully secure and schedule introductory meetings (virtual or phone calls) between the corporate or donor contact and the Executive Director, ensuring all logistics (time zone, calendar invites, agenda) are managed.

C. Marketing & Partnership Support (10%)

• Content Identification: Identify opportunities to leverage existing marketing content (impact reports, success stories) within outreach efforts.
• Partnership Mapping: Suggest potential in-kind partnerships (e.g., software, services) based on corporate capabilities identified through LinkedIn profiles and company pages.

III. Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven LinkedIn Proficiency: Demonstrated experience in using LinkedIn as a professional networking, research, and lead-generation tool (beyond simply posting updates).
• Highly Motivated & Serious: Must be a self-starter who operates with professionalism, urgency, and a commitment to meeting weekly/monthly outreach and meeting-set goals.
• Excellent Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to executive-level contacts and corporate decision-makers.
• Marketing/Sales Acumen: Familiarity with the concepts of lead generation, donor cultivation, and translating organizational needs into compelling partnership proposals.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent time management and organizational abilities to track multiple campaigns and maintain accurate records in a shared virtual environment.
• Technical Comfort: Must be comfortable using digital tools for communication (Email, Zoom/Google Meet) and tracking progress (Google Docs/Sheets).

IV. Benefits of Volunteering

• Real-World Impact: Directly contribute to the financial health and expansion of a growing non-profit, fueling real change in the community we serve.
• Executive Access: Opportunity to shadow the Executive Director in pitch meetings and gain high-level exposure to non-profit development and corporate philanthropy strategy.
• Professional Networking: Significantly expand your professional network by interacting with top executives and decision-makers in the corporate and philanthropic world.
• Letter of Recommendation: Upon successful completion of the minimum commitment, a strong letter of recommendation detailing specific, measurable achievements will be provided.